Device for controlling the stopper of a metallurgical vessel

ABSTRACT

In a device for controlling a plug (5) of a metallurgical vessel (1), in particular a distributing launder of a continuous casting installation, with a plug (5), which can be raised and lowered and which is supported in a support frame which is movable relative to the metallurgical vessel (1), the support frame for the plug (5), which can be raised and lowered, is supported outside of the metallurgical vessel (1) displaceable in a direction crosswise to the lifting direction of the plug (5) and can be releasably locked together with the metallurgical vessel. By means of this a simple separation of the plug mechanism (9) and the metallurgical vessel (1) is possible without operational elaboration and an exchange of the metallurgical vessel (1), for example, is made possible without having to dismantle the entire plug mechanism (5, 9).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a device for controlling a plug of ametallurgical vessel, in particular a distributing launder of acontinuous casting installation having a plug which can be raised andlowered and is supported in a support frame which is movable in respectto the metallurgical vessel and can be locked together with themetallurgical vessel.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A device of the above mentioned type is known from EP-A1-439 681, forexample. In this known device the plug is connected to a cross armdisposed above the distributing launder or the metallurgical vessel forthe controllable displacement of a plug. This cross arm is connected inturn with a support bar which can be moved up and down on a verticalguide, wherein the vertical guide of the support bar is embodied as aroller guide. The known device is fixed on the exterior of thedistributing launder so that its mobility in relation to themetallurgical vessel or the distributing launder is only provided withinthe guide at the outer edge of the distributing launder or themetallurgical vessel.

Conventional devices are known from a number of further references,particularly EP-A2-435 540 as well as DE-A 2 021 211, wherein the plugmechanism for regulating the outflowing liquid metal is individuallyfastened to the distributing launder. The plug mechanism remains in theinstalled position when the tundish is changed.

This fixed and rigid connection between the plug mechanism and thedistributing launder results in that as a rule the control or the plugrods are not dismantled, even when the brick lining of the distributinglaunder is renewed, since the fixed attachment at the distributinglaunder requires a too extensive and complicated dismantling process.

The plug rod which as a rule is equipped with a metal element on one endfor fastening on a support bracket and with a conduit used for cooling,is knocked off after a predetermined number of launder drainingsbecause, on the one hand, it is used up and, on the other, a removalwithout destroying it would entail a relatively large effort.Furthermore, pivoting mechanisms have been proposed in this connectionwhich, however, also have not been accepted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is now the object of the invention to provide a device of the abovementioned type by means of which a separation of the plug mechanism fromthe metallurgical vessel or the distributing launder of a continuouscasting installation is possible without a great operational outlay andwhich makes it possible to perform a tundish change, for example,without having to dismantle the entire plug mechanism. In connectionwith the brick lining work in particular, the aim of the device inaccordance with the invention is to make possible such brick liningoperations without impairment by the plug mechanism. To attain thisobject the embodiment in accordance with the invention is essentiallycharacterized in that the support frame for the plug, which can beraised and lowered, is supported movable crosswise to the liftingdirection of the plug outside of the metallurgical vessel. Because aseparately displaceable support frame for the plug, which can be raisedand lowered, is provided apart from the metallurgical vessel,particularly the distributing launder, it is made possible to separatethe frame from the tundish and in this way to lift the distributinglaunder away without hindrance, for example by means of a hoist. Theindividual plug guides or the plug mechanism can be respectively kept ina displaced position which does not hamper the operation and is againavailable immediately at the end of the exchange operation withpreadjusted distances for the individual plugs. This is of particularimportance, especially with an embodiment with a plurality of plugs,because by means of this the maintenance effort and the amount of timenecessary for an exchange of the distributing launder can beconsiderably reduced. Because now the support frame can be removablylocked together with the metallurgical vessel, on the one hand apossibility is created to unlock the frame from the metallurgical vesselor the tundish for a tundish change and, on the other, to assure anexact and relatively tolerance-free operation in the working position.

The embodiment in accordance with the invention is advantageously such,that the support frame is supported on or suspended from a portal framewhich can be moved outside of the metallurgical vessel. Such a portalframe can receive one or a plurality of plugs, which can be raised orlowered, in order to make possible in this way the rapid installation ofone or a plurality of plug guides on a distributing launder. Basically,the portal frame can here be mounted either stationary on the castingplatform or on the tundish car and moving along with it, wherein it isof course necessary that the metallurgical vessel or the distributinglaunder be movably or displaceably seated in an appropriate manner incase of a stationary disposition of the portal frame.

In a particularly advantageous manner the embodiment in accordance withthe invention is further developed in such a way that the plug, whichcan be raised or lowered, or its support frame, are guided displaceablecrosswise to the displacement direction of the portal frame. With suchan embodiment it is possible to achieve great flexibility anddisplaceability when the rail of the portal car has been laid in astationary manner. If the portal frame can be moved in the manner of acar on a rail, it is possible to provide the desired adjustment relativeto the metallurgical vessel or the distributing launder in a simplemanner by displacement of the support frame relative to the portalframe. In the process the support frame is advantageously guided so itcan be raised and lowered.

To assure an operation which is free of play and operationallydependable in the working position in order to reduce tolerances, thereleasable locking in relation to the metallurgical vessel is embodiedto be such that the support frame is designed with a coupling member,particularly a claw, which in the working position of the plugcooperates with a complementary embodied coupling member on the exteriorof the metallurgical vessel. Such a claw requires only little structuraleffort and the locking member which is to be disposed in this way on thedistributing launder or the metallurgical vessel for engagement of theclaw does not present any hindrance whatsoever during brick-liningoperations. On the contrary, such a counter-locking device can be easilyused for transporting the distributing launder or the metallurgicalvessel for the purpose of performing brick-lining work.

The embodiment is made in a particularly simple manner such, that aplurality of support frames, in particular three support frames, forplugs which can be raised and lowered are supported on the movableportal frame, wherein the structural outlay is kept relatively low bymeans of the common portal frame.

In a particularly simple manner the support frames here can be raised orlowered relative to the portal frame by a common drive mechanism,particularly a chain drive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in detail below by way of exemplaryembodiments schematically represented in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a first embodiment of a device of theinvention for controlling a plug of a metallurgical vessel in theoperational or casting position;

FIG. 2 shows the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 1 in arepresentation similar to FIG. 1 in a rest position, wherein amanipulation of the metallurgical vessel or the distributing launder ispossible;

FIG. 3 shows a variant embodiment of a device of the invention forcontrolling a plug of a metallurgical vessel on an enlarged scale in arepresentation analogous to FIG. 1, wherein the device comprises amovable portal frame;

FIG. 4 shows the rest position of the device in accordance with FIG. 3in a representation analogous to FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 shows a rear view of the embodiment in accordance with FIGS. 3and 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A metallurgical vessel, for example a distributing launder, which isseated on a casting platform 2, is identified by 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2. Inthis connection the casting platform 2 can be movable, as schematicallyindicated by wheels 3. The distributing launder has pouring spouts 4 atregular intervals which are closed in the casting position shown in FIG.1 by a plug 5. In a known manner the plug or the plug rod 5 has aconduit extending in the longitudinal direction for cooling, asschematically indicated by 6, and can be fixed on a support bracket 8via a metal element 7. This support bracket 8 is a part of a plug guide,generally indicated by 9, which is seated in a support frame indicatedby 10. The plug guide 9 with the support bracket 8 is movable in amanner known per se for an up-and-down movement of the plug rod 5 in thedirection of the two-headed arrow 11.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support frame 10 for the plug orthe plug guide 9 is seated by means of an appropriate holder 13 on aguide 12, wherein on the one hand raising and lowering of the entiresupport frame 10 also in the direction of the two-headed arrow 11 cantake place by means of an electro-mechanical hoist 14, for example, andadditionally the entire support or the hoist 14 is movable along theguide 12 in the direction of the two-headed arrow 15. In this way it ispossible, as can be seen in FIG. 2 in particular, to bring the entireplug control as well as the support frame 10 for the plug into aposition in which the metallurgical vessel or the distributing launder 1can easily be lifted off its position on the casting platform in orderto perform brick-lining work, for example.

Thus, in contrast to known embodiments wherein the plug control wasfixed directly on the distributing launder, with the illustratedembodiment it is only necessary to remove the launder, so that work tobe performed on the launder or on the metallurgical vessel can beexecuted without hindrance and without having to take a possible plugguidance or plug mechanism into consideration.

Thus, with the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the supportframe 10 for the plug guide 9 can be moved in a direction which isessentially normal to the direction of movement of the plug as well asthe plug mechanism, wherein the adjustment in the normal directionindicated by the two-headed arrow 15 is performed in the direction ofthe longitudinal extension of the distributing launder 1 by means of theadjustment of the distributing launder 1 on the casting platform.

In order to assure the correct positioning of the plug mechanismrelative to the metallurgical vessel 1 during casting operations, thesupport frame is embodied with a clamping device generally indicated by16, wherein the clamping device includes a claw 17 which cooperates witha complementary embodied coupling member 18 on the exterior of themetallurgical vessel in order to assure a correct and stable positioningof the plug guide relative to the metallurgical vessel during operation.It can be clearly seen that this mutual coupling can be easily undone.

A manual lever 19 is additionally indicated which allows the handyactuation of the bracket 8 of the plug guide.

In the variant embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the reference numeralsof the previous embodiments have been retained for like components. Inthis case a metallurgical vessel or a distributing launder 1 isessentially stationary disposed on a casting platform, again indicatedby 2, and in FIG. 3 the casting or working position is again shown,while in FIG. 4 the position of the plug guide or its support frame isshown, in which a simple removal of the distributing launder 1 ispossible without hindrance. The opening 4 near the distributing launder1 terminates in a mold 20.

In this embodiment the support frame 10 for the plug guide 9 or for theplug 5 connected therewith via the support bracket 8 is seated in aportal car 21, wherein this portal car 21 can be moved via schematicallyindicated wheels 22 on a rail 23 and thus is essentially displaceablealong the long extension of the distributing launder 1. The portal car21 has a guide 24 corresponding to the guide 12 of the previousembodiment, along which the support frame 10 can be moved, again bymeans of a hoist or a support 14, in the direction of the two-headedarrow 15 crosswise to the direction of movement, indicated by 11, of theplug or the plug guide. In the operating position represented in FIG. 3,the support frame 10 is solidly fixed via the clamping device generallyindicated by 16 with the claw 17 on a corresponding coupling element 18on the exterior of the distributing launder 1.

Furthermore, a guide 25 indicated in the upper region of the portal car21 is shown. Control chains for the movement of the support frame 10 inthe portal frame as well as raising and lowering of the plug guide areindicated by 16.

It can be seen from the rear view in accordance with FIG. 5, that threeplug guides 9 seated in a common support frame 10 are disposed in theportal car 21, wherein the support frame 10 can be raised and lowered bya schematically indicated raising and lowering drive mechanism 27. Inaddition, the guides 24 on the portal car can be seen, wherein theseating or support on these is again generally indicated by 14. In thisway it is possible to position a plurality of plug guides exactlyrelative to each other in the portal car 21, so that with theappropriate positioning of the portal car by means of its movement alongthe rail 21 in respect to a distributing vessel a plurality of plugguides are exactly positioned by the simultaneous lowering of thesupport frame.

Guide rollers are indicated by 28, which cooperate with the guide 25 inthe region of the top of the portal frame.

Thus, with this embodiment a movement of the plug guide 9 or of a plug 5in essentially three normally right-angled positions in respect to eachother is made possible, so that the exact positioning in relation to themetallurgical vessel 1 is easily possible.

We claim:
 1. A device for controlling a plug of a metallurgical vesselemployed in a distributing launder of a continuous casting installation,said installation including a plug which can be raised and lowered andwhich is supported in a support frame adapted to be selectively lockedin position relative to the vessel and which, when unlocked, is movablein respect of the metallurgical vessel, said frame being supportedoutside of the metallurgical vessel and adapted to be raised and loweredand rectilinearly displaced crosswise to the direction of movement ofthe plug.
 2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the supportframe is supported by a portal car which is displaceable.
 3. A device inaccordance with claim 2, wherein the support frame is guided to bedisplaceable crosswise to the displacement direction of the portal car.4. A device in accordance with claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the supportframe is guided so it can be raised or lowered.
 5. A device inaccordance with claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the support frame includes acoupling member which cooperates with a complementary coupling member onthe exterior of the metallurgical vessel to lock the support frame tosaid vessel.
 6. A device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the supportframe can be raised and lowered relative to the portal car by means of adrive mechanism.